TT 2017: Hutchinson takes Superbike win from Hickman

Full report below from BSN

Tyco BMW’s Ian Hutchinson has taken victory in today’s Superbike TT, beating Peter Hickman by five seconds after six laps to increase his overall tally to 16 wins as Dean Harrison completed the podium.

In an incident packed race, which saw race favourite Michael Dunlop retire at Handley’s on lap two, Hickman only trailed Hutchinson by 1.644s at Ramsey at the last time of asking but got the hammer down across the Mountain to win even though Hickman set a 131.103mph final lap.

Harrison had led from Ballaugh Bridge on lap two all the way until Ramsey on lap four until Hutchinson took charge and didn’t look back, taking the victory with a final lap of 130.738.

James Hiller suffered a poor first pitstop which dropped him to fourth place but he got in behind Hutchinson on the road and was able to haul himself back into second on lap five but charges from Hickman and Harrison pushed him back to fourth.

Dan Kneen came back from a 30s pitlane penalty to take fifth place with veteran Michael Rutter in sixth place. David Johnson was the first Norton home in seventh and Josh Brookes put in an astounding 129.127mph final lap to jump into eighth place, ahead of William Dunlop and Martin Jessopp.

Horst Saiger ended in 11th place, Sam West 12th and Bruce Anstey in 13th after stopping at Ramsey to inspect his rear tyre on lap four. Philip Crowe and Jamie Coward compeleted the top ten.

Michael Dunlop had gone all out on lap one, setting a 131.135mph lap from a standing start to set the fastest lap of the week so far but failed to appear at Ballaugh on lap two.

Guy Martin only made it as far as Doran’s on lap one, crashing unhurt which is not good news for Honda. Conor Cummins, on the Padgetts Fireblade, had a nightmare first fuel stop and sank down the order to eventually retire in the pits. Gary Johnson retired at Doran’s on lap three.

RST Superbike TT - conditions dry

1 4 Ian Hutchinson BMW / Tyco BMW 01:45:58.474 128.170 Silver

2 10 Peter Hickman BMW / Smiths Racing 01:46:03.544 128.068 Silver

3 9 Dean Harrison Kawasaki / Silicone Engineering 01:46:11.545 127.907 Silver

4 3 James Hillier Kawasaki / JG Speedfit Kawasaki 01:46:13.281 127.873 Silver

5 14 Dan Kneen BMW / Team Penz 13.com BMW Motorrad 01:47:50.068 125.960 Silver

6 11 Michael Rutter BMW / Bathams SMT Racing 01:47:50.203 125.957 Silver

7 1 David Johnson Norton / Norton Motorcycles 01:48:25.512 125.273 Silver

8 16 Joshua Brookes Norton / Norton 01:48:39.174 125.011 Silver

9 15 William Dunlop Yamaha / Temple Golf Club 01:48:50.858 124.787 Silver

10 18 Martin Jessopp BMW / Riders Motorcycles BMW 01:48:53.943 124.728 Silver

Image source: Impact Images